Space heater

ABSTRACT

A space heater particularly adapted for a gas fired log arrangement, which has a front window through which the flames can be viewed. A combustion chamber is arranged within and spaced from a housing, the products of combustion passing upwardly through baffle devices to secure full benefit of the heat. Room air passes by convection around the combustion chamber and baffle devices where it is heated and then passes out through a top opening. An air tight opening through the combustion chamber and housing is covered by a heat resistant glass window panel. Around a portion of the edge of the window panel are holes leading to the inside of the housing to enable air from the outside to pass to the inside of the housing, thereby to supply fresh air to be heated and also to impart a cooling influence on the glass window panel.

1 51 July 31, 1973 SPACE HEATER [76] Inventor: Raymond R. Dupler, deceased, late of Toledo, Ohio by Anna Gertrude Cooley Dupler, executrix 22 Filed: June 22,1972

21 Appl. No.: 265,226

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 126,134, March 19, 1971,

Primary Examiner-Meyer Pertin Assistant Examiner-Ronald C. Capossela Attorney-Malcolm W. Fraser et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A space heater particularly adapted for a gas fired log arrangement, which has a front window through which the flames can be viewed. A combustion chamber is arranged within and spaced from a housing, the products of combustion passing upwardly through baffle devices to secure full benefit of the heat. Room air passes by convection around the combustion chamber and baffle devices where it is heated and then passes out through a top opening. An air tight opening through the combustion chamber and housing is covered by a heat resistant glass window panel. Around a portion of the edge of the window panel are holes leading to the inside of the housing to enable air from the outside to pass to the inside of the housing, thereby to supply fresh air to be heated and also to impart a cooling influence on the glass window panel.

6 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PATENIEDJULBI m8 SHEU 2 [IF 2 2 INVENTOR.

Ewmwo F8. DUDLER 1 SPACE HEATER This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 126,134, filed Mar. 19, 1971, now abandoned.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A space heater for gas fired logs or the like which can be placed in a room against a wall, for example, and, after proper gas connections are made, no further installation is required. Although the flames can be viewed through a heat resistant glass panel, the heater is completely isolated from the room air to be heated because the heater is in a combustion chamber arranged within but spaced from the metal housing and through that space the room air passes in heat exchange relation to the walls of the combustion chamber and the outlet passage of the heated products of combustion. The air which passes inside the housing about the window glass panel also exerts a cooling effect on the panel and particularly that portion which is exposed to the greatest heat.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS F 1G. 1 is a front perspective view of the space heater with parts broken away for the purpose of clarity; and

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional elevation of the space heater.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a space heater having a sheet metal housing provided with a lower front wall portion 11 and an upwardly and rearwardly inclined upper wall portion 11a. The housing is formed with opposite side walls having lower portions 12 and upper and inwardly inclined upper portions 12a. A rear wall 13 covers only a portion of the rear of the housing, the lower portion being open as indicated at 14. On the inside of the rear wall 13 is a layer 13a of thermal insulating material. A panel 16 forms the bottom of the housing 10. It will be understood that the several walls of the housing are secured together in a substantial air tight manner, as by welding. Projecting from opposite sides of the housing 10 at the rear thereof, are tab extensions through which fasteners may extend for securing the housing to a wall of a room, for example.

Arranged within the lower portion of the housing 10 is a sheet metal combustion chamber 17 of horizontally elongate form, which is adapted to receive a heating device, such, for example, as a gas fired log. The combustion chamber 17 is elevated from the bottom wall 16 of the housing, and for this purpose a pair of channel bars 18 spaced apart from each other, are welded to the bottom wall of the combustion chamber and the front ends abut against the front wall 11 of the housing to which they are welded. At the rear ends of the channel bars are down turned legs 18a which rest upon the bottom wall 16 of the housing. The combustion chamber 17 is formed with a vertical front wall 19, end walls 20, and a rear wall 21. The front wall 19 has an upwardly and rearwardly inclined upper wall portion 22, and the rear wall 21 has a somewhat longer inclined Wall portion 23, but of the same inclination asthe wall portion 22. A flat top wall 24 is integral with the adjacent walls.

Mounted on the top wall 24 and arranged centrally thereof is a pipe or stack 25 through which products of combustion from the combustion chamber 17 may pass to a cylindrical bafile tube 26, which is arranged transversely and has its ends closed. The products of combustion are prevented from passing directly from the tube 26 by a baffle plate 2'7, which extends most of the distance from end to end of the tube, but with the ends spaced from the ends of the tube. The plate 27 generally covers the diameter of the tube so that the products of combustion from the pipe 25 are required to pass around the ends of the plate 27 before passing from the cylinder 26. Above the cylinder 26, and inclined rearwardly therefrom, is a relatively short pipe or stack 28 which directs the products of combustion from the cylinder 26 to a baffle tube or cylinder 29 which also has its ends closed and is somewhat shorter than that of the tube 26. Similarly, within the tube 29 is a baffle plate 30 similar to the plate 27 in arrangement, preventing the products of combustion from passing directly from the baffle tube 29 by requiring the same to pass around the ends of the plate 30 before passing to an upper or terminal pipe or stack 31.

The pipe 31 is flat on top, and at the rear has a downwardly extending diverter tube 32, the lower end of which is open to enable air to pass up and mix with the products of combustion before the same pass upwardly to the chimney 33 which leads to the outside. The top of the housing 10 is open as indicated at 34. It also should be noted that the combustion chamber 17 is spaced from the walls of the housing 10 to enable air to be heated by radiation and pass by convection from the space heater through the open top 34.

A zig zag shaped rear sheet metal channel 35 extends downwardly from the terminal stack 31 to about the lower stack 25, and thence inclines downwardly and outwardly in spaced relation to the inclined rear wall portion 23 of the combustion chamber, and thence downwardly parallel to the rear wall 21 of the combustion chamber for a short distance. This provides a space in which air can be heated, and since the sides of the plate 35 are spaced from the side walls of the housing 10, adequate channel is provided for the heated air to pass upwardly to the outlet 34.

The front of the housing and the combustion chamber are provided with registering openings, which are covered by a window glass panel to enable the gas log, for example, disposed within the combustion chamber, to be viewed from the front of the space heater, somewhat simulating the appearance of a wood burning fire. As shown, there is formed in the front wall 19 of the combustion chamber a substantially rectangular opening, the metal surrounding such opening being flanged outwardly as indicated at 36, thereby providing a space of the order of two inches between the front of the combustion chamber and the front wall of the housing It). It will be manifest that a similar rectangular opening is formed in the front wall 11 of the housing, this metal being cut out. The meeting edges of the flange 36 of the combustion chamber and the housing cut out are welded together. It should be observed that these openings are substantially above the floor or bottom wall 16 of the housing, as indicated on FIG. 2.

Surrounding the window opening in the housing 10 is an asbestos tape 37, against which a heat resistant glass panel 38 abuts. Manifestly, the glass panel overlaps the opening, and surrounding the edge portions of the panel 38 is a sheet metal frame 39 which has a flat inner edge portion bearing against the edge of the glass panel. The outer edge portion of the frame 39 is bent inwardly. The arrangement is such that the outer edges of the frame 39 do not bear against the adjacent portion of the housing, but are spaced therefrom to provide an opening extending completely around the frame. A series of bolt and nut assemblies 40 secure the frame to the housing, as indicated.

Formed in the front wall 11 of the housing is a row of holes 41 which extend completely across the upper portion of the window opening, and also extend down on each side for a short distance. The holes 41 are concealed by the outer edge portion of the frame 39 and enable air from the outside to pass into the space between the housing and the combustion chamber 17 to be heated. These holes not only enable air from the additional space to pass into the space heater, but also assist in cooling the edge portions of the glass panel in the upper regions thereof where the heat is the greatest.

The combustion chamber 17 has an integral bottom wall 42 which covers only the rear portion of the combustion chamber. The front, or forward portion, of the combustion chamber bottom is covered by a removable sheet metal plate 43. Thus, the heater, such as a gas log, rests upon the bottom wall portion 42, and in the event that the heater is a gas log, the controls for same, including the control valve and venturi, are arranged beneath the removable plate 43 so as to be out of sight. Access to these controls is afforded by a door 48 in the grilled opening 46 at the bottom of the front housing wall 11.

To provide access to the pilot light assembly for the heater, a channel member or box 44 extends through holes in the housing front wall 11 and the front wall 19 of the combustion chamber in an air tight manner. This enables access to be had to the heater, and particularly to the pilot light. The front of the box 44 is closed by a cover plate 45.

Grilled openings 47 on opposite sides of the housing also enable room air to pass into the inside of the space heater.

What I claim is:

l. A space heater comprising a sheet metal housing having closed front and side walls, a rear wall, and an open top, a sheet metal combustion chamber arranged within and spaced from the walls of the housing, means including baffle devices for conducting products of combustion from said combustion chamber through the upper end of said housing, supporting means for said combustion chamber including at least one support member beneath said chamber and fixed to a housing wall, an opening in the front wall of said combustion chamber having edge flanges extending forwardly to the inside of the front wall of said housing, there being a corresponding opening in said housing, means providing an air tight connection between said edge flanges and said housing, a heat resistant glass window panel covering the opening in said housing, and means for retaining said glass panel in position.

2. A space heater as claimed in claim 1, in which said glass panel retaining means comprises a frame having a first part bearing against the edge portion of said glass panel and a second part extending beyond such edge portion, and aperture means leading to the space between said housing and combustion chamber and adjacent said frame for enabling outside air to pass to the inside of the heater and assist in cooling said glass panel.

3. A space heater as claimed in claim 2, in which said aperture means is disposed beneath and concealed by said second part of the frame.

4. A space heater as claimed in claim 3, in which said aperture means comprises a row of holes extending across the upper edge portion of the glass panel and downwardly on opposite sides thereof.

5. A space heater as claimed in claim 1, comprising an open ended box-like channel below the window opening and extending through the housing front wall and combustion chamber front wall to afford limited access to the interior of the combustion chamber, and a cover for the outer end of said channel.

6. A space heater as claimed in claim 1, comprising a grilled opening in the front wall of said housing in the region below said support members, and a hinged door in said grilled opening to afford access to the interior of the housing beneath said combustion chamber.

4 III 4 

1. A space heater comprising a sheet metal housing having closed front and side walls, a rear wall, and an open top, a sheet metal combustion chamber arranged within and spaced from the walls of the housing, means including baffle devices for conducting products of combustion from said combustion chamber through the upper end of said housing, supporting means for said combustion chamber including at least one support member beneath said chamber and fixed to a housing wall, an opening in the front wall of said combustion chamber having edge flanges extending forwardly to the inside of the front wall of said housing, there being a corresponding opening in said housing, means providing an air tight connection between said edge flanges and said housing, a heat resistant glass window panel covering the opening in said housing, and means for retaining said glass panel in position.
 2. A space heater as claimed in claim 1, in which said glass panel retaining means comprises a frame having a first part bearing against the edge portion of said glass panel and a second part extending beyond such edge portion, and aperture means leading to the space between said housing and combustion chamber and adjacent said frame for enabling outside air to pass to the inside of the heater and assist in cooling said glass panel.
 3. A space heater as claimed in claim 2, in which said aperture means is disposed beneath and concealed by said second part of the frame.
 4. A space heater as claimed in claim 3, in which said aperture means comprises a row of holes extending across the upper edge portion of the glass panel and downwardly on opposite sides thereof.
 5. A space heater as claimed in claim 1, comprising an open ended box-like channel below the window opening and extending through the housing front wall and combustion chamber front wall to afford limited access to the interior of the combustion chamber, and a cover for the outer end of said channel.
 6. A space heater as claimed in claim 1, comprising a grilled opening in the front wall of said housing in the region below said support members, and a hinged door in said grilled opening to afford access to the interior of the housing beneath said combustion chamber. 